The problem is that the JAA Integrated route was and is designed for people moving smoothly into RHS multi pilot operations with associated type rating course and extended line training. As few are doing so it rather means that hundreds of commercial licenses are being issued in a way that was never envisaged or intended.
At the planning stage of JAA it was thought that the Integrated route would be generally too expensive for anyone not being at least partially sponsored. Thereby gauranteing that the vast majority of Integrated students went smoothly onto further job related training. SPIC time and lower solo hours thus being allowed for Integrated courses.
That this has not happened is due to the fact that the whole thing was launched in the teeth of a hiring boom and many people were tempted - quite logically - to stump up the big money and go Integrated. There is also a hangover from the snobbery of CAP509 vs Self Improver days. Additionally the large FTO's proved adept at selling their Integrated courses to individuals despite the numbers for Modular being quite a bit better.
Never underestimate a glossy brochure and a brandname.
So here we find ourselves with 157hr Commercial pilots knocking on any door begging to be allowed to fly anything for anything.
Never flown solo at night out of the circuit. Never flown a twin/complex solo. Never flown a solo flight without a pre-brief and de-brief. Landed at only 3 airports ever. Never landed outside of a student pilot crosswind limit - typically 15kts. Sometimes never flown in or near icing conditions. Never been past 45 degrees AoB never mind upside down.
Hell - we all started somewhere and I'm far too young to hark on about the old days. BUT. Issuing 157hr CPLs to self sponsored unemployed CPLs is not in anyones interest.
It was better for the CAA, the public and the pilot when that only happened at 700hrs OR after the rather tougher better written and conducted CAP509 course had been completed.
Cheers,
WWW